The Osceola times., 1887-09-03


when all he wanted was to be left in
peace in the background.
lie might have been very happy, TO,
nc loved books, music and painting
and had money to indulge his tastes in
all three; but Mr.. Winterbottom did
net approve of what he called "artistic
trash" and always wanting to stir
Jerry up, and make him take an inter.
est In politics; he actually had an idea
at one time of making him stand for
the borough
Mrs. Winterbottom was Just as bad,
and the two used to badger and worry
that poor boy (all from a mistaken no
tlon OF what was good for himD till /
think they made him as unhappy as a
boy could be. To crown all, they set
their hearts on his marrying Charlotte
Porritt, the daughter OF Mr. Winter
bottoms partner. Charlotte was a
young woman Of the style called
"dashing," with big black eyes and a
loud voice. Young Jerry hated her.
and opposed his parents to the limit of
his feeble will; then he gave in.
Just when they had wrung a prom
lse from him to propose to Charlotte.
he fell ill Of kind of intermittent
fever, and then it was they called in
Bently Though Jerry was i'll, he was
not so bad ms TO be confined to the
house altogether; sometimes he had to
stop in and lie on the sofa, but some
times he was strong enough to 20 out
and walk about Bently said be was
not to be worried or contradicted at
all, but must be allowed to do lust
what he liked. and TO amuse himself "a
much as possible
One day, my husband told me that
Mr.. and Mrs. Winterbottom were 90
ing to call on me. suppose made
rather face. for he said, little
sharply:
''Now do be careful what you say
and how You behave, they are the best
patients | have; and please be amiablc
and conciliatory even if they do pat
ronize little.h
| was as anxious to secure their
good will as he was. for / knew what
an influential connection theirs was;
so determined when they came to put
on my prettiest manners.
The day after the announcement of
their approaching visit was made was
pouring wet, so wet that nobody would
have thought Of going out. Lizzie Da-
cres just ran in after lunch. and we sat
gossiping over the fire till about three,
then suddenly said:
"No one will call to-day. l shall
wash my hair"
| have an inconvenient amount Of
hair, and it is a very serious affair to
wash it,
Well, ! was sitting on the edge of
the fender, in an old red rag of dress
ing-gown, with all my tresses in wet
rat-tails about my shoulders, and a
towel in my hand, when there came II
tremendous ring at the front-door bell.
We were in the dining-room, | must
tell you, and there was no fire in the
drawing-room.
The peal had hardly died away.
when we heard heavy footsteps, and
Sarah's voice in sprightly tones of well
come, saying:
"Oh, yes numl She's at homer'
gave one glance of agony at Lizzie,
and then sprang lightly into large
cupboard where we kept. jars and
newspapers, and drew the door to after
me.
In this cupboard was another door
opening into the surgery, and my idea
had been to escape through it and up
the back stairs. then, after few min
utes spent on hurried toilet, | could
descend gracefully attircd. During
those few minutes Lizzie would enter
tain the visitors.
Imagine my horror when ! found the
door of exit locked, while, OH dismal
truth the visitors were none other
than the Jerry Winterbottoms, before
whom | could not appear in my eccen-
trio costume.
Lizzie, who had OWNED my plan of
escape, but who was, of course, igno-
rant of its Illustration, began to con-
verse in the most elegant manner, and
Sarah's statement that was
at home, adding that | would be down
in moment, having just been called
to the nursery!
This was all very well for five. for
ten, even for fifteen minutes; but at
last the conversation, which had been
getting more and more jerky and dis
connected, stopped altogether, and
painful silence fell.
To add to the agony of my position,
a deadly fear was seizing hold of me
that Bently would come into the SUR
gerry, and would, all unconscously,
open the door of communication, and
send me lying as from cataput, wet
hair, red dressing-gown. towel and all,
into the startled midst of the Winter
bottoms.
Ii was not till afterward that ] dis
covered that this fear, at least, was
groundless; the cupboard door shut
with a spring, and could only be OPEN
ed from the outside.
BY and by the distraught Elizabeth
spoke again.
81 do not think the maid can have
told Mrs Ellis you were here. If you
will excuse me, will 90 and see"
Then heard her leave the room,